Pet Amnesty Day in Miami for nonnative pets

Pet owners can surrender their nonnative pets — free of charge and no penalties — during an Exotic Pet Amnesty Day in Miami.

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Pet owners can surrender their nonnative pets — free of charge and no penalties — during an Exotic Pet Amnesty Day in Miami.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding the event on Friday and Saturday at Zoo Miami.

The commission says in a statement that such events help reduce the number of nonnative species being released into the wild by pet owners who can no longer care for their pets or no longer wish to keep them. Such events are held throughout the state. Wildlife officials will place healthy animals with qualified adopters.

More than 500 nonnative species have been observed in Florida, and more than 130 have reproducing populations. It is illegal to release any animal not native to Florida.